{"id":3219,"date":"2021-06-05T23:56:39","date_gmt":"2021-06-06T03:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=3219"},"modified":"2021-06-06T00:02:39","modified_gmt":"2021-06-06T04:02:39","slug":"the-parable-of-the-rich-fool-june-6th-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=3219","title":{"rendered":"THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL, June 6th, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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CENTRAL THOUGHT<\/strong>
The wisest decision in life is to seek to know God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HYMN: I AM THINE O LORD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEXT: Luke 12:16-21<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTRODUCTION<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The parable of the rich fool is about a man who planted a field and it brought forth plentifully. He became proud and arrogated his achievements all to himself. He forgot the source of the plenty, the presence of the needy and the consciousness of eternal treasure. The bible declares that the fool has said in his heart that there is no God. (Ps.14:1). There are those who believe God exists and seek to know Him through diverse ways which are not the way. Our Lord Jesus Christ says \u201c I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father but by me\u201d (John 14:6). The believer in Christ should recognize that he is what he is by the grace of God. All that one achieves in life, one\u2019s wealth, riches, fame etc. should be seen as having come from the Lord. Therefore, our dependence and sufficiency as believer should be in Christ and all glory ascribed to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LESSON OBJECTIVES<\/strong>
The objectives of this study are:
1.To examine the parable of the rich fool.
2.To appreciate the folly of the rich fool.
3.To relate the experience of the rich fool with believers of today.
4.To derive lessons from his experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BIBLE TRUTH
Q1. EXAMINE THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL. Luke12:16-21<\/strong>
\u201c\u2026\u2026the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:\u201d The man, perhaps a farmer, had a bumper harvest and as a normal being, was very happy and this made him merry.
The rich fool, seeing his goods and being fulfilled as a successful farmer, became proud because he did not recognize that it was God who multiplied his harvest and so arrogated the glory to himself. This man failed to consider that it is not proper to think of oneself more highly than he ought to think hence he became lofty, haughty, proud and lifted up; so, God had to bring him down by taking his soul. The rich fool did not have the needy in his mind. Since he did not recognize his creator when he was laboring and at his harvest time, the needy was not equally put in his agenda.
Believers should be reminded that everybody\u2019s work shall be tried. That the thought of man\u2019s heart made open before God and He will bring into judgement everything done in secret. The believer should also know that only fools layup
treasures for themselves and such people are not rich towards God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Q2. DISCUSS THE FOLLY OF THE COMFORT AND EXPECTATIONS. <\/strong> Mark 8:36; Luke 12:21<\/strong>
(a). In His abundance: \u201cAnd I will say to my soul, soul, thou has much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry.\u201d (v.19). His expectations were that he had everything the world could offer; no struggling, no sorrow, no competition, no fear of man and no fear of the unknown. He was equally pleased that he had gained the whole world; but little did he know that he was accountable to his maker whether he recognized His lordship over him or not. Mark 8:36 says \u201c what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul.\u201d When God took his soul, he both lost his soul and all the goods that he acquired.
(b). In having many goods stored up for years: (v.19). \u201cMany goods laid up for many years.\u201d For these many years the rich fool never recognized the source of his life nor the source of his strength, which he used to labor and acquire those goods. The \u201cmany goods\u201d may not be tithed nor any part given to the needy. He rejoiced in his labor but did not consider it was the gift of God. Hence satan being subtle, blinded his spiritual understanding, sense of reasoning, opinion and attitude towards worldly things. He failed to realize that whatever we have should be used to the glory of God who holds our future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Q3. FROM HIS FOLLY, WHAT PARALLEL SITUATION DO WE OBSERVE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT? Rev 3:14-18<\/strong>
In our environment today, worldly acquisition, quest for riches, fame, honor without giving God his proper place in the heart is what is seen among people. For such people, the more they acquire, the more they pursue and on the long run, lose focus on God\u2019s care, protection and provision.
The scripture says \u201cbecause thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods, and having need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:\u201d the church today has in some aspects of Christian service and conduct manifested worldliness. Recognitions are made based on one\u2019s world acquisition rather than spiritual commitment. Some churches are being opened with the aim of making money. There is a trend that many churches are preaching prosperity and exhibiting gifts of the Holy Ghost ostentatiously. The working of the
church should be as in Matt.6:33, which says \u201c seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you.\u201d The purpose of the gospel is that mankind make heaven and not just to acquire worldly goods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q4. IDENTIFY THE MAN\u2019S PRIMARY AREA OF CARE OR CONCERN. Prov. 3:6; 1Peter 5:6 <\/strong> The rich fool was primarily concerned with how to establish his kingdom and then rest from his labor without considering those around him. When we enter into riches, we should ascribe all honor and glory to God the giver of both life and riches. Our attitude should be on how to use such riches to please God and serve mankind, not to consume them on ourselves only. There are many needy people around us, that God has put before us to prove our faithfulness on how to use our riches (i.e. blessings) to help the needy ones. We have the widows, orphans and even the less privileged to assist. Faithfulness in these areas are proof of our acknowledgement of God\u2019s provisions to us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q5. WHAT LESSON DO WE LEARN FROM GOD\u2019S SENTENCE TO HIM? Luke 12:20; Matt 24:4, 25:13; Heb 9:27 <\/strong> The lord answered him thus\u2026 \u201cbut God said to him thou fool this night thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided\u201d. ( Luke 12:20). Believers should know that God owns everything and we are only caretakers. Our lives are in God\u2019s hand and He does what he chooses to do with it. God has also \u201cset apart the godly to Himself\u201d (Ps.4:3). The proof of godliness is obedience to God\u2019s word. We should share because giving is God\u2019s nature. When believers share their God-given possessions, they lay up treasures in heaven, affect people\u2019s lives on earth and have favor of God rather than his wrath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


DAILY LIVING APPLICATION<\/strong>
Anyone that lives and have what the world can offer, who does not think of other people ( especially the needy) is a self-centered person and because such a person is shortsighted will definitely miss it in eternity unless he repents. When we recognize that God is the owner of our lives and possession and that we are accountable to Him in the day of judgment, we will be humble enough to let Him control us so as to follow His foot-step in giving. We are therefore, encouraged to be clothed with humility so as to experience the grace and favor of God that come on the humble. We must humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. We must realize that whatever we have is given to us by God and it should be used for his glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


MEMORY VERSE<\/strong>
Mark 8:36
\u201cFor what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: Parable of the rich fool. <\/strong> Lk 12:16-21.
Tuesday: Influence of thoughts of the heart.<\/strong>
Lk 12:17; Isa 2:11-12; Rom 12:3.
Wednesday: Folly of earthly comfort and expectations.<\/strong>
Mark 8:36; Lk 12:21.
Thursday: Folly of \u201chaving many goods stored up\u201d<\/strong>
Eccl. 5:11-14; Matt. 6:19-21; Lk. 12:21.
Friday: Correct attitude to riches. <\/strong> Prov.3:6; 1Pet. 5:6.
Saturday: We are but caretakers, God owns all.<\/strong>
Lk.12:20; Matt.24:4; 25:13; Ps.4:3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CENTRAL THOUGHTThe wisest decision in life is to seek to know God. HYMN: I AM THINE O LORD. TEXT: Luke 12:16-21 INTRODUCTION The parable of the rich fool is about a man who planted a field and it brought forth plentifully. He became proud and arrogated his achievements all to himself. He forgot the source […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3222,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sundayschool"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/as.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3219"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3219\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3223,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3219\/revisions\/3223"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}